Deputy Speaker blames ‘laxity and exceptions’ for another fatal road accident

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrainis are “in pain and sorrow” after a fatal road incident happened again for the second time in a short period, Parliament’s First Deputy Speaker Abdulnabi Salman told members yesterday, as the government rejected claims that enforcement has been lax.

Speaking during the Parliament session, Salman said the traffic law was not being enforced as required, blaming what he called “laxity and unjustified exceptions”.

He said there had been shortcomings in dealing with road crashes and reckless behaviour, especially among young people, and called for the law to be enforced in practice, warning that the site involved draws thousands of visitors each week.

Catastrophe

He described the incident as “a catastrophe and a major loss for Bahrain”, and offered condolences to the Al Shuwaikh family and to Bahrainis.

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, His Excellency Ghanim bin Fadhl Al Buainain, pushed back, saying the relevant authorities were applying the law within its limits and that there was no leniency on penalties.

“The relevant authorities enforce the law within its limits, and there is no laxity when it comes to penalties,” he said, while thanking both the Shura Council and Parliament for passing the traffic law.

Factors

H.E. Al Buainain said many factors can lie behind such incidents, including driving culture and inexperience, but insisted there was no excuse for dangerous conduct.

“There is absolutely no justification for anyone,” he said. Salman also raised delays affecting draft laws in committees, saying some were ready but still held up, and urged quicker work to merge and pass agreed amendments as the Council moves into its final legislative term.